The son of a postal worker and school teacher mother, Cliff Brice began his business during the height of The Great Depression. From humble beginnings, in 1930 he launched a successful career with his first retail gasoline location at 132 S. Weber, then the outskirts of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. Shortly thereafter, a location in downtown Pueblo, Colorado followed at 7th and Grand, next to Rood Candy Company. (They still have a station at that location)

Mr. Brice created a very successful organization based on hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to his customers. Selling “Bronze” gasoline from a small refinery in Enid Oklahoma, called Eason Oil, Cliff Brice Station, Inc soon developed a reputation for quality products at competitive prices.

After a fire destroyed the Eason refinery, Brice was forced to find another source of supply. In 1938, he teamed up with a small Texas refinery, then called Shamrock Oil. Cliff Brice Stations, Inc became the first location in Colorado for Shamrock Oil. Opening up new locations in the San Luis Valley resulted in being the first company to haul gasoline, by truck, over La Veta Pass. Cliff Brice stations remain Diamond Shamrock’s oldest ongoing account.

World War II brought gas rationing and tough times for everyone, including in the petroleum industry. Gasoline was needed for the war effort and very little was available to consumers. Mr. Brice decided to branch out by offering other products and services such as Kerosene and brand named motor oils such as Pennzoil and others, along with minor auto repair and full service stations.

After the war, cars were manufactured larger and more powerful. New grades of gasoline were in demand. Cliff Brice locations were some of the first to carry premium grade gasoline in Southern Colorado. During the 1950’s the Cliff Brice territory covered Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming. Business was booming and with the association Diamond Shamrock, Cliff Brice grew to one of the largest independent jobbers in the west.

Although growing, Cliff Brice remained steadfast in its commitment to quality products, (There motto was then and is still today Quality Gas for Less) competitive prices and quality people working for the company. At one time, Cliff Brice Stations owned 75 stations throughout the Rocky Mountain West.

Cliff Brice continues today to be a leader in Southern Colorado as a suppler ofQuality Gas for Less..

Here are some pictures of my Brice stuff from the 30's to 40's. [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc24b3127cceb5c4cb466edc00000026108AbuWTho3ZNL[/img] There are only a few known Brice globes left. [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d908b3127cceb8a2576a567e00000026108AbuWTho3ZNL[/img] 42" Brice sign Ric

This is a road sign with reflective sand based coating. [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc24b3127cceb5c4cc70af4100000026108AbuWTho3ZNL[/img] They used this globe up until the 70's [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc24b3127cceb5c4c9616efa00000026108AbuWTho3ZNL[/img] Stamps.. [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dc24b3127cceb5c4cbc1ef6b00000026108AbuWTho3ZNL[/img] Credit Cards! [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6cc05b3127cce8029c090b6ed00000016108AbuWTho3ZNL[/img]

Bonner Brice, Vice President of Cliff Brice today and grandson of Cliff Brice Sr. gave me a CD with hundreds of old Cliff Brice staton photos.. I will try to post a few in the next few days..

Here are the 4 styles of quart cans that were used by Cliff Brice. The first 2 are metal. The second two are composite cans. The pennway can is extremely rare. The reason for this was explained to me like this by Bonner Brice in 2005:"You mentioned the oil cans. My company (75 years strong this year!!) used to produce our own oil. Again, my grandfather began canning oil in the early/mid 1940's. (and I finished the last quart cans myself in the late 1970's - about the time plastic jugs became popular.) They started as Pennway Oil. After a VERY short time in production, he was threatned by the PCOA (Pennsylvania Crude Oil Association) to cease calling the oil PENN-way because the name implied it had something to do with Pennsylvania crude oil. He was ordered to destroy all the cans in his possesion. (Two railroad box cars of Bright yellow metal Pennway cans were taken to the local dump and bulldozed.) This makes the Pennway very scarce. I only have one in my own collection. He then called it General Motor Oil and produced that in metal quart and metal two gallon and 5 gallon cans. Years later the cans went to fiber. In all there were 4 styles of our quart cans. Pennway, General metal, General fiber, and a slightly different design of fiber to finish up."

It occurred to me after posting the Pat Griffin cans that no one had mentioned it yet so I thought I would do a little on this company. The Pat Griffin Company was formed on March 8, 1937. They had 3 employees at that time. During the war in the 1940’s the company had to look for other ways to make money to survive. They created a Supply and Transportation Department. Trucks used in this new venture included trucks that hauled cement to lumber yards and army installations. Gasoline trucks hauled gasoline to customers like United Airlines in Cheyenne and Rock Springs, WY.

Pat Griffin

In 1952 the company sold the cement trucks and that part of the business. At the same time they expanded with a retail tire store and a retread plant. An L.P. Gas Department was also added. At this time the company had 16 employees and moved into a new headquarters located in Ft. Collins, CO.

In its first year of operation the company sold 238,000 gallons of gasoline. In 1961 they sold over 15,000,000 gallons of gas at 21 retail outlets selling Phillips 66 gasoline.One of the interesting aspects of the Pat Griffin “Gasateria”, “Gasamat” and “Gas-mart” locations was that they used coin operated gas pumps that were open 24 hours a day. As you will see some of the locations were nothing more than a sign and a gas pump located on a dirt lot.

Here is one from Pueblo, Colorado.. I have not been able to find any thing about them?? We have a rocker can too, If I can find a picture I will post it.. [img]http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b6d735b3127cce8d1c6e0bec4500000016108AbuWTho3ZNL[/img]